Knowledge CenterGlobal Health Discourse & Tools

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Units

Community health workers are trained to explain to pregnant women with HIV the importance of HIV testing, and prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care at the health center. They learn to support women in receiving this care. Community health workers also learn to support women in adhering to ARV treatment starting as soon as possible during pregnancy (regardless of CD4 count) and continuing for life, giving their newborn babies nevirapine, and taking their babies to the health center regularly for vaccinations and check ups.

For women with HIV who have taken 3 ARVs faithfully every day for at least 3 months before birth (continuing for life), community health workers learn to teach women that it is safe for them to breastfeed their babies exclusively. For women with HIV who have not taken ARVs for at least 3 months before giving birth, community health workers learn to support women in feeding their babies infant formula exclusively.

The training is designed for one day.

Resources

Facilitator Manual: contains all of the information needed to carry out the training, including preparation and material lists, step-by-step instructions for leading training sessions, pre- and post-tests, and all content from the Participant Handbook.

Participant Handbook: contains all of the content that participants are trained on (text and illustrations) and also any case studies, scenarios, small group discussion questions, or role plays needed for training sessions. Participants use the handbook during training sessions and afterwards for review.

Flip Chart: at sites without electricity or AV equipment, facilitators can use the flip chart. It contains the same images as the slide presentation, with the accompanying text on the back of each flip chart page.